'Trust in the Lord forever'

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

-Isaiah 26:4

2014 has been my year of new health concerns. Knee surgery. Muscle spasms. Etc.

Slowly, these things are becoming resolved or have already resolved, but not on my preferred schedule. I'm guessing that like most people, I am impatient and want quick and easy fixes.

The words of Isaiah can help bring people back to where we need to be. Trusting in God can mean surrender your impatience, your own timetable, and place yourself on the Rock.

Does this mean that we are to do nothing? No. In fact, placing your trust in God can help you press forward in advocating for your own or a loved one's health care.

Women often unaware of stroke risk

You know the stroke stereotype: They all happen to elderly men.

Wrong, wrong wrong.

For evidence that we need more stroke awareness efforts, an excerpt from an article about how women are often unaware of stroke risk:

The survey shows that:

* Only seven of 37 women (19%) with irregular heart rhythm and 11 of 71 (15%) with known heart disease identified these conditions as risk factors for stroke.

* Just 3% of the women surveyed correctly identified irregular heart rhythm as a stroke risk factor; 16% identified heart disease and 36% identified diabetes as risk factors.

* Two-thirds of the women considered their health to be good or excellent; about 70% said they rarely or never worried about stroke.

Beliefnet: Health and Healing

A Web resource worth checking out, especially the particular entry on stroke information on the Web site Beliefnet: Health and Healing.

Lots of other material that can be related to stroke survivors, family members and caregivers, including weight loss, fatigue, stress and depression, can be found on the main Health and Healing page.

Another hole-in-the-heart resource

My trusty Google alert flagged another information resource about a common heart defect that is suspected to lead to strokes under certain conditions.

The defect -- called a patent foramen ovale -- is a hole between the upper chambers of the heart. Everybody is born with the hole, which normally is closed shortly after birth. For previous entries on my own experience, you can click here, here or here.

The latest one is from iVillage Total Health (click here to read the article) and covers the basic facts about the defect, symptoms (which are usually nonexistent) and diagnosis, treatment and good questions for your doctor.

The site is limited but has some video and other explanatory content that might help in your search for information.